St. Florian Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Florian was a martyr who lived in the 200s-300s. He was a Roman soldier during the persecution of Diocletian. St. Florian refused to persecute Christians and eventually professed the Christian Faith.
St. Florian suffered courageously for the Faith. You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy martyr in your life!
About St. Florian
St. Florian was born in Aelium Cetium, an ancient Roman city that is now part of present-day Austria. His birth was around the year 250.
Early on in his life, Florian joined the Roman army. He advanced through the military ranks and became a commander in the Roman province Noricum. During this time, he was responsible not only for his military duties but also for organizing firefighting brigades. Florian trained a group of soldiers into an elite firefighting unit.
In 303, the Christian persecution under Emperor Diocletian began. Though Florian was expected to enforce laws against practice of the Christian Faith, he refused to do so. Reports of his failure to enforce these laws soon reached Rome.
The governor, a man named Aquilinus, was sent to Florian’s territory to investigate the matter. He ordered Florian to participate in sacrifice to the Roman gods, but Florian refused.
According to St. Florian’s “Acts,” Florian surrendered himself to Aquilinus’ soldiers at Lorch. The soldiers were already gathering the Christians there. Florian confessed his Faith.
Because he confessed his Christian Faith, Florian was scourged twice and half-flayed while still alive. It is said that he was then put onto a funeral pyre to be set on fire, but that he first stood up and challenged the Roman soldiers to set him on fire with these words: “If you wish to know that I am not afraid of your torture, light the fire, and in the name of the Lord I will climb onto it.”
Some accounts say that the soldiers then set him on fire but he did not die until they threw him into the Enns River with a stone around his neck. Other accounts say that the soldiers were too scared of his words to set him on fire and chose instead to throw him into the Enns River with a stone around his neck.
A pious Christian woman retrieved St. Florian’s body and buried it. His body was eventually moved to the Augustinian Abbey of St. Florian near Linz, Austria. It is said that his body was later moved to Rome, and that some of his relics were sent to the king of Poland and the bishop of Cracow. He is still a popularly venerated saint throughout Central Europe.
Many miracles have been attributed to St. Florian’s intercession. Today, St. Florian's cross is often used as a symbol of firefighters.
St. Florian’s Feast Day: May 4th
Why Pray the St. Florian Novena?
St. Florian is the patron saint of firefighters. You can ask him for prayers if you are a firefighter, or for someone you know who is a firefighter.
St. Florian is also a patron saint of Poland. You can seek his intercession if you live in Poland or are from Poland. You can also ask him to pray for someone you know who lives in Poland, or to pray for the country of Poland.
Additionally, St. Florian is a great saint to ask for intercession if you are a soldier. Or you can ask him to pray for someone you know who is a soldier, since he was a soldier in the Roman army.
You can pray the St. Florian Novena for any intention!
St. Florian Novena Prayers
St. Florian Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in refusing to carry out the evil commands of his superior.
St. Florian, you joined the Roman army as a young man. You advanced through the military ranks and became a commander. Though you probably did not start out your life as a soldier planning to become a Christian, you eventually became a soldier for Christ.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served!
You were commanded to carry out atrocities against Christians, but you refused to commit this evil. Instead, you professed the Christian Faith and gave up your life for God.
Pray for me, that I may always hold fast to my Faith. Pray that I may fight valiantly for God, as you did.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in his courageous work protecting others from fires.
St. Florian, you were a prominent soldier in the Roman army. You were given charge of organizing a firefighting brigade, and you are now invoked by many as the patron saint of firefighters.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You trained a group of soldiers into an elite firefighting unit. Though we don’t know when you decided to become Christian, your hard work protecting others from fire must have helped prepare your heart for a commitment to God Who is Love.
Pray for me, that I may grow in my love of others and my commitment to God. Pray that I may love God more deeply each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in refusing to unjustly punish Christians on account of their Faith.
St. Florian, you were a prominent commander in the Roman army when Diocletian began persecuting Christians. You were ordered to enforce unjust laws against Christians, but you refused to carry out these orders.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God!
Your refusal to carry out unjust acts against Christians eventually cost you your life. You confessed your Christian Faith, and you willingly gave up your life for God.
Pray for me, that I may hold fast to my Faith amidst all trials, as you did. Pray that I may never waver in my Faith, no matter what sufferings I might endure on account of my love for Christ.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in opposing the persecution of Christians.
St. Florian, you rose to a high military rank in the Roman army in a time when persecution of Christians had temporarily ceased. But when Diocletian came to power and decreed that Christianity was outlawed, you refused to carry out the new unjust laws against Christians.
Please bring my petitions before God Whose people you protected!
Your refusal to persecute Christians brought your own Faith under the scrutiny of your superiors. You boldly professed your Faith and chose to give up your life for God.
Pray for me, that I may be strong in my Faith even when practicing it becomes very difficult. Pray that I may be ready even to die for my Faith if necessary.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in standing firm against the unjust rulers of his society.
St. Florian, your position of prominence in the Roman army was put in danger when you refused to carry out an unjust command to persecute Christians. But you persevered in doing what was right.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!
You were ordered to offer sacrifices to Roman gods, but you refused. Instead, you surrendered yourself to Aquilinus’ soldiers as they gathered other Christians, and you confessed your Faith publicly.
Pray for me, that I may always place my Faith above all worldly considerations. Pray that I may never waver in holding fast to my Faith amidst all trials.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in choosing to do what was right, no matter how difficult.
St. Florian, you rose to a high position in the Roman army. You were ordered to enforce unjust laws that would persecute Christians. You refused to carry out this evil order, and faithfully continued on this path even when it became very difficult.
Please faithfully continue to bring my petitions before God!
Your refusal to persecute Christians brought about many difficulties for you. Ultimately, it led to your martyrdom.
Pray for me, that I may have the fortitude to do what is right in my life, no matter how difficult it might be. Pray that I may never waver in my commitment to doing what is right.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in choosing to confess his Faith publicly, despite the sufferings he knew he would face.
St. Florian, we don’t know for certain when you converted to Christianity. But you refused to carry out the order to enforce a persecution of Christians, and you continued to hold fast to this decision despite the sufferings it brought you.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You were ordered to participate in sacrifice to Roman gods. Instead, you surrendered yourself as a Christian and willingly gave up your life for God.
Pray for me, that I may be as devoted to God as you were. Pray that I may never falter in my Faith, no matter what sufferings I might face.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in courageously confessing the Christian Faith and giving up his life for God.
St. Florian, you were ordered to enforce unjust laws that would have caused a lot of suffering for Christians. You chose instead to courageously proclaim the Christian Faith as your own.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you chose to serve!
You were given the opportunity to save your life by sacrificing to the pagan gods. You courageously refused to do so and surrendered yourself to martyrdom instead.
Pray for me, that I may be courageous in my practice of the Faith. Pray that I may be ready and willing to give up even my life for my Faith if necessary.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Florian Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Florian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in choosing to join your Church in the midst of Christian persecution.
St. Florian, we don’t know for certain when you converted to Christianity. But you assisted Christ’s Church for a long time by refusing to persecute Christians as you had been ordered to do.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
When you were ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods, you refused and boldly confessed the Christian Faith as your own. Even though it meant giving up your life in a painful manner, you did not hesitate to hold fast to your Faith.
Pray for me, that I may hold fast to my Faith, no matter the cost. Pray that I may unwaveringly serve God and His Church each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Florian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.